Fortinet FortiGate Reviews

Name: Fortinet FortiGate
Brand: Fortinet
Rating: 4.2 (316 reviews)

Vendor: Fortinet

4.2 out of 5

316 reviews
90% willing to recommend

16K followers

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What is Fortinet FortiGate?

Fortinet FortiGate offers comprehensive network security and firewall protection across multiple locations. It effectively manages data traffic and secures environments with features like VPN, intrusion prevention, and UTM controls.

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Fortinet FortiGate is the #1 ranked solution in SD-WAN tools, #1 ranked solution in top WAN Edge solutions, and #2 ranked solution in best firewalls. PeerSpot users give Fortinet FortiGate an average rating of 8.4 out of 10. Based on the analysis of the 316 most recent Fortinet FortiGate reviews, the overall sentiment is positive, with a sentiment score of 7.2. Fortinet FortiGate is most commonly compared to Netgate pfSense: Fortinet FortiGate vs Netgate pfSense. Fortinet FortiGate is popular among the large enterprise segment, accounting for 39% of users researching this solution on PeerSpot. The top industry researching this solution are professionals from a educational organization, accounting for 22% of all views.

Helped 816,406 peers since 2012

Featured reviews

DineshKumar28

Senior Manager at Cognizant

We are using Fortinet FortiGate as a firewall Fortinet FortiGate has been invaluable. It has helped save costs due to its various features, reliable performance, very good UI, low latency, and stability. The Threat Intel engine in Fortinet FortiGate is highly rated for its effectiveness in…

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MURALI NIDAMANURI

Managing Director at VIPUN COGNITIVE SOLUTIONS PVT LTD.

Regarding challenges, customers initially faced issues like internet dropping, but after firmware upgrades, everything worked well. I believe Fortinet should offer short and frequent training sessions, preferably in video format, whenever they introduce new features. These sessions should be around five to ten minutes long, allowing users and partners to quickly grasp the information without disrupting their daily tasks. Long training sessions spanning one or two full days can lead to distractions and reduced focus due to continuous support calls. Therefore, providing brief and focused training snippets would be more beneficial for users.

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William Nogueira

IT Security Specialist at a agriculture with 1,001-5,000 employees

While FortiGate offers a wide range of security features, I sometimes feel that the platform could benefit from more extensive improvements. Given the multitude of functions it provides, I wonder if the developers have enough time to adequately refine each aspect. However, for our specific needs, FortiGate currently performs adequately. The debugging and troubleshooting has room for improvement. I would like to see greater integration with third-party solutions. For instance, one example would be integrating Endpoint Protection with FortiGate, such that if an issue arises with Endpoint Protection, an action could be automatically triggered on FortiGate. I am concerned about Fortinet's ability to help us meet regulatory compliance because its optimal functionality requires deploying all solutions within the mesh as Fortinet products. This raises questions about the compatibility and integration of non-Fortinet technologies within the Fortinet Security Fabric.

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Fortinet FortiGate mindshare

Product category:

As of November 2024, the mindshare of Fortinet FortiGate in the Firewalls category stands at 19.8%, up from 17.1% compared to the previous year, according to calculations based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Firewalls

Key learnings from peers

Last updated Nov 21, 2024

Valuable Features

Fortinet FortiGate's notable features include VPN, UTM capabilities, and strong firewalling. Users appreciate SSL VPN, application control, and web filtering for security purposes. Its graphical interface and simplified configuration process make it user-friendly, allowing easy management and report generation. Fortinet's flexibility with VDOMs and centralized monitoring enhances network control and visibility. The integration with Active Directory and high availability setup, along with threat prevention, strengthen its efficiency and reliability for diverse environments.

"It has a good UI and overall integration, including FortiGate Manager for controlling all firewalls from a single place."
"The initial setup is very straightforward and easy, with wizards helping to configure the device efficiently."
"Fortinet FortiGate meets all the security demands of my industry. It covers endpoint security, including web interface, DNS security, and ELP. I'm currently using the latest version. The features that have most improved our network security are Web Control, filtering, application control, IDS, IPS policies, and Deep SSL inspection."

Room for Improvement

Users express a desire for Fortinet FortiGate to improve its graphical user interface, documentation, and the stability of firmware updates. They suggest enhancements in bandwidth management, logging, and compatibility with third-party tools while seeking more cost-effective pricing. Troubleshooting features, policy management, and integration with other systems are areas highlighted for improvement. The demand for better reporting, security features, and customer support is evident, alongside requests for more intuitive interfaces and improved feature integration to streamline management tasks.

"The anti-malware engine could use an upgrade."
"There's always something new that can be added or fixed."
"The firmware updates are sometimes not stable. The stability issues can vary, sometimes happening once a month or quarterly. New firmware updates can occasionally introduce bugs, causing some policies to fail. We then have to raise a ticket, and Fortinet usually provides a fix within a few days."

ROI

Fortinet FortiGate offers notable ROI through improved internet stability, lower costs, and increased security efficiency. Users report significant savings, better functionality, and reduced operational expenses. The investment is cost-effective, providing timely value and enhanced productivity. Many benefit from its ease of management, leading to fewer support issues and improved threat protection. Fortinet FortiGate's affordability, coupled with strong performance, results in a positive financial impact, making it a valuable choice for organizations with tight budgets.

Pricing

Enterprise buyers evaluating Fortinet FortiGate report that initial setup costs can be high, but subsequent annual license fees are manageable. Licensing is straightforward and less confusing than competitors like Cisco, often making FortiGate more cost-effective over time. Though some features require additional licenses, Fortinet is generally considered affordable and provides good value, particularly compared to Palo Alto Networks and Check Point. Discounts are available for multi-year contracts, and pricing is competitive across the product line for most companies.

"For the price, I'd rate it a ten because it's very cost-effective."
"The cost of Fortinet FortiGate is competitive and not expensive compared to other enterprise- grade solutions. On average, the license cost per year is around seventy percent of the firewall's purchase price."
"It was worth the money overall. It's good value."

Popular Use Cases

Fortinet FortiGate is primarily utilized for firewall protection, VPN connections, and network security across various industries. Companies use it for perimeter security, intrusion detection, web filtering, and SD-WAN integration. It assists in safeguarding data centers, internal network segments, and branch communications. Organizations value its capabilities for advanced threat prevention, ensuring secure remote access, and managing bandwidth, enhancing connectivity while maintaining robust cybersecurity measures.

Service and Support

Customer service and support of Fortinet FortiGate vary in quality. Some users find them very responsive and knowledgeable, while others face long wait times and language barriers. Many appreciate the local partner support, which can be more effective in certain regions. Some customers report quick resolutions and effective issue management, though some express dissatisfaction due to slow response times and escalations. Users emphasize the importance of partner and distributor support for resolving technical issues.

Deployment

Fortinet FortiGate's initial setup is generally straightforward and easy for those with firewall experience, enhanced by features like FortiExplorer and clear documentation. While most find it user-friendly with its Web GUI, some complexity may arise depending on network size and needs. Widespread experience with other security systems aids deployment, which often takes a short time, although more intricate setups require preparation and skilled technical staff for fine-tuning.

Scalability

Fortinet FortiGate is generally found to be scalable, with users reporting success in expanding their networks. Some note it scales well across diverse company sizes and industries. There are mentions of hardware limitations which might necessitate device replacement for higher capacity needs. Licensing is identified as a consideration when scaling. Users have successfully managed expansions with appropriate planning and initial sizing. A minority of users highlight potential issues with mixed vendor environments affecting connectivity.

Stability

Fortinet FortiGate is generally stable, with most users finding it reliable without significant issues. Some experienced occasional instability in older firmware versions, especially under heavy traffic or with certain configurations. Bugs were often resolved in subsequent updates. Users note high performance, while emphasizing careful model selection for traffic demands. Many rate stability highly, though some suggest continued improvements, especially in the latest firmware releases. Proper configuration appears crucial for optimal stability.

These insights are based on the in-depth reviews provided by peers to help you make a better buying decision.

Download our Fortinet FortiGate Buyer's Guide for additional reliable information.

Review data by company size

By reviewers

By visitors reading reviews

Top industries

By visitors reading reviews

Educational Organization

22%

Computer Software Company

15%

Manufacturing Company

Comms Service Provider

Financial Services Firm

Government

University

Retailer

Construction Company

Healthcare Company

Media Company

Energy/Utilities Company

Insurance Company

Non Profit

Hospitality Company

Real Estate/Law Firm

Wholesaler/Distributor

Legal Firm

Outsourcing Company

Performing Arts

Transportation Company

Recreational Facilities/Services Company

Consumer Goods Company

Pharma/Biotech Company

Compare Fortinet FortiGate with alternative products

Learn more about Fortinet FortiGate

Organizations rely on Fortinet FortiGate for its robust integration with advanced security policies, ensuring significant protection for enterprises, cloud environments, and educational sectors. It facilitates network segmentation, application-level security, and authentication management, securing communication within and between locations such as branches and data centers. Its efficient SD-WAN and UTM features enable streamlined data management and enhanced threat protection capabilities. Users appreciate its centralized management, facilitating seamless operations across diverse environments.

What are the key features of Fortinet FortiGate?

VPN Capabilities: Ensure secure remote access for users and seamless site-to-site connections.
Intrusion Prevention System (IPS): Detect and prevent security threats and vulnerabilities.
Advanced Firewall: Offers robust firewalling with application control and web filtering.
SD-WAN: Optimizes application performance and enhances bandwidth management.
SSL VPN: Provides reliable and secure access for remote workers.

What benefits should users expect from Fortinet FortiGate?

High-performance Security: Delivers effective threat mitigation with high availability.
Centralized Management: Simplifies network operations with cloud-based management tools.
Detailed Analytics: Provides comprehensive insights into network activity and security threats.
Load Balancing: Ensures optimal resource distribution and traffic management.

Fortinet FortiGate is crucial in sectors like education, offering robust networks for secure data flow between campuses and facilitating remote learning. In enterprise environments, it allows efficient management of application traffic and security across multiple branches, while in the cloud, it seamlessly integrates with diverse platforms to enhance security infrastructure.

Fortinet FortiGate was previously known as FortiGate 60b, FortiGate 60c, FortiGate 80c, FortiGate 50b, FortiGate 200b, FortiGate 110c, FortiGate.

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Fortinet FortiGate customers

Amazon Web Services, Microsoft, IBM, Cisco, Dell, HP, Oracle, Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile, Sprint, Vodafone, Orange, BT Group, Telstra, Deutsche Telekom, Comcast, Time Warner Cable, CenturyLink, NTT Communications, Tata Communications, SoftBank, China Mobile, Singtel, Telus, Rogers Communications, Bell Canada, Telkom Indonesia, Telkom South Africa, Telmex, Telia Company, Telkom Kenya